Active VS Passive Solar Water Heating System: Know The Difference
There are several types of solar water heating system that are commonly used nowadays. But the important thing to know is these systems are always a bit different from each other. Which solar water heating system meets your requirements is what you need to know. Among the types of solar water heaters, the two most common types are active solar water heater and passive solar water heater. In order to know, which one would suit you the best, read on to find out their differences.
One of the main difference between these two types of solar water heating system is that, on one hand, the active system uses a pump to move the liquid through the systems. On the other hand, the passive system mainly relies on gravity to move the liquid. Active systems usually use environment-friendly anti-freeze in order to transfer the heat energy to the water. This is something a passive solar water heater does not do.
Another difference is the solar collectors. In a passive solar water heating system, the water is heated in the solar tubes that are exposed to the sunlight. If you need hot water, a latch opens up, and the hot water moves freely from the pipes to the outlet. For an active system, solar collectors are different. The hot water is heated using these collectors and then there are two things which the pump does. The hot water is either transferred to the storage tank or the anti-freeze is transferred to a coil in the tank. This coil then heats up the already stored cool water in the solar tank.
An active solar water heating system uses external sources like electricity to start the pump. But a passive solar water heating system does not rely at all on any external resources and only uses the heat absorbed from the sunlight. This is why, in case of bad weather conditions; a passive system might not be effective enough to produce hot water. But, on the other hand, as it does not use external sources, the water you would be using will be free of cost entirely.
Therefore, both active and passive solar water heating system has its own negatives and positives of their system. If you live in a place where you face a lot of bad weather conditions, it is best to use an active one. On the other hand, if you don’t face any severe weather conditions, but you want to be free of external sources totally, you should go for a passive solar water heating system.
Read More
3 Ways To Protect Your Health And Solar Water Heater From Hard Water
Hard water is a very common problem in various parts of West Bengal. When the supply comes from underground water, it is bound to bring minerals along with it. Now, these minerals might not be quite unhealthy for you and rather protects you from various kinds of diseases. But drinking hard water, in the long run, is also not healthy. All the minerals present in the water is not always good for all human beings. But apart from your health, it tends to harm other things too like glassware, dishes, sinks, pipes, solar water heaters, etc. When sodium gets deposited regularly in the solar water heater, it can quickly deteriorate the condition of the system. So, how to deal with these effects? Read on to find out.
Flushing Your Solar Water Heater Regularly
One of the easiest ways to not allow minerals to get deposited in a solar water heater is to flush it to preserve it. In order to prevent its untimely demise, your solar water heating system should be flushed annually in normal cases. But if your supply of water is hard water, try flushing it as frequently as possible. All you need to do to is turn the heater off and let all the water out. It is a simple process, but you need to make sure that the minerals come out too along with the water.
Chemical Treatments
You can use a different chemical to remove the calcium from inside the solar water heater. The most effective chemicals to do this are vinegar and lye. First, flush out the water and then pour vinegar inside and let it be for a while. Vinegar is not just effective for the minerals in the hard water but also kills bacteria, mould, and other types of germs. Lastly, make sure to flush out the vinegar completely from the heater before you fill it with fresh water again.
Invest In A Water Softener
If you don’t want to go to such troubles, then simply invest in a water softener. A good quality water softener can remove the minerals from the water that causes the hardness. If you remove it before the water enters the heater, it will be easy to prevent the untimely demise of the system. But you might need an expert’s help to use a water softener to ensure that it is working effectively
Use any of these three ways to protect your solar water heater in West Bengal and this will, in turn, protect your health.
Read More
Why October Is The Perfect Month To Buy A Domestic Solar Water Heater?
Usually from the month of October, our daily necessity for hot water tends to increase. October brings a chill in the wind and it gradually keeps increasing till January. During these months, the demand for hot water increases tenfold. At that time, even washing your hands become unbearable without hot water. This means you will be requiring hot water 24*7. But, the increase in demand for hot water also leads to a huge spike in the electricity bill or the gas bill. Usually, most families use an electric geyser, immersion rod, or even gas water heater. All of these leads to a huge increase in your daily expenditure. One of the easiest ways to cut down this expenditure is to start using a domestic solar water heater.
A domestic solar water heater is advantageous over other kinds of water heaters in many ways. First of all, solar energy is something that is available everywhere throughout the year. But, the same cannot be said for the supply of electricity in many places. Solar energy is a natural and renewable energy which is free to use and abundant in nature. Also, unlike the other water heaters, it hardly requires any maintenance and it also reduces carbon footprints.
But, a lot of people have doubts over buying a domestic solar water heater thinking that they don’t work in the winter. We can assure you as long as sunlight is there, the weather doesn’t affect the working of a solar water heater. Even on a cloudy day, a solar water heater is efficient enough to absorb the heat from the atmosphere in order to heat the water in the tank. If you need, you can also buy a solar water heater that comes with a backup in case of an emergency. So, if you want to switch to a solar-powered water heater, you can buy one easily and get it installed. It will be a one-time investment that will serve you for the next 15 years.
But why choose the month of October? Well, we are not saying that you cannot buy it any other time in the year. But the month of October might be the best for you. As mentioned before, this is the time when gradually your usage of hot water will start to increase. If you install it now, you will be able to get used to it by the time winter starts fully. You might need to take some precautions during that time. It is best to know about them beforehand and start using a domestic solar water heater accordingly.
Read More
Know The History Of Solar Water Heating System Since 1891
Solar water heating system has become quite popular and has been used by many people over the years. Not only solar water heating system has a lot of environmental benefits, but it is also quite affordable. But the solar water heater we use now has evolved a lot over the years. It has taken a lot to reach this simplified version of a solar water heater that we use nowadays. the very first one was made in 1891.
Clarence Kemp was the first one to patent it at that time. The first ones became popular in California and by 1920s at least 30% of the population had installed a solar water heater at their home. But the biggest disadvantage of this solar water heater was that it was a metal tank which used the sunlight to heat the water. This meant the water kept in the metal tank had to be under the sun without any lids and unprotected from the germs and dirt. This hot water was not that suitable for drinking purpose or used for cooking. Many people tried to come up with other versions that would make the heating process easy, but the main problem remained the same.
In 1909, William. J bailey made a version of the solar water heater of Kemp. He separated the solar water heater in two different parts. One was the heating element that was kept exposed under the sun and the other one was an insulated storage unit. This storage unit had to inside the house so that people could have hot water day and night. The heating part consisted of pipes attached to a metal sheet in a glass-covered box and it was painter black. The water that needed to be heated was passed through this narrow pipes. To bring more efficiency to the water heater Bailey reduced the volume of water that could be exposed to the sun which heated up the faster.
But from the 1920s to 1940s the market of solar water heater started to dry up during World War II. People started to rely on fossil fuels and started to use a gas water heater. But after that from the 1960s, several countries like Japan, Australia started to come up with a varied version of solar water heating system as they were going through a lack of natural sources after the war. So, solar water heater became their way of getting hot water on a daily basis.
Continuing up to now, solar water heating system has gone through a lot of evolutions and right now it is really affordable and easy to use it.
Read More
This World Ozone Day Do Your Part By Buying Solar Water Heater
This year, on 16th September 2020, we will be observing World Ozone Day. On this day, the main aim is to protect the ozone layer by taking several measures. These measures are mainly for controlling total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it. We already know that there is a big hole in the ozone layer due to global warming and it keeps getting bigger every day. If we don’t take initiatives, then very soon it will be become impossible to live on Earth due to too much pollution and global warming. Solostar, a supplier of solar water heaters in West Bengal will tell you what you can do to take part in this day.
One of the effective ways to stop global warming or saving the Earth is to stop using non-renewable resources. Using non-renewable resources like fossil fuels are depleting the resources of Earth. The usage of these fossil fuels to produce electricity or the usage of diesel and petrol for driving cars is increasing pollution day by day. Now, it is not possible to stop using cars or anything that uses electricity. But, we can certainly start using an alternative instead of using up the non-renewable resources and reduce the amount of pollution.
This alternative is using solar energy. Solar energy is being used in a lot of places, especially where there is a lack of fossil fuels. Solar energy can be used to power up a lot of things. From powering up a whole house to solar batteries or solar charger, solar powers can be used in many ways. One of the cheapest way solar energy used nowadays is a solar water heater.
A solar water heater comes in very handy, especially in places where there are too many problems in the supply of electricity and people require hot water throughout the day. Whether it is for your home or your workplace, if you require hot water all the time, you can also install a solar water heater. A solar water heater has collectors that collect the solar energy and turns it into heat energy which heats the water in the insulated tank. This water stays hot for a very long time.
So, if you are also concerned about the environment and want to do your part, you can also buy a solar water heater. After all, it is an investment which can be used for more than 15-20 years without any problem, if maintained properly.
Read More
4 Things You Can Use In Your Daily Life That Are Run By Solar Energy
Harnessing the power of the sun has been done since the beginning of the time. The only difference since then has been that we have evolved ourselves and know how to utilize the power of the sun more efficiently. Of course, we have not reached the stage where we stop relying on non-renewable resources and run the whole world on solar energy, but we have come a long way. There are so many ways solar energy is used in daily life in various ways in different parts of the world. Take a look at what are the top 5 ways solar energy is used in daily life.
Domestic Solar Water Heater
This is the most easily affordable way of using solar energy. A domestic solar water heater is becoming one of the daily necessity in our life very quickly. Instead of using an electric water heater or gas water heater, people are inclining more and more towards solar water heaters. Easy to install and easy to use, solar water heaters are capable of fulfilling all the hot water needs in a family.
Solar Transportation
Trains, trams, cars and buses are slowly transitioning towards solar energy. Although it is not seen as much even in the united states, people are gradually trying to give up petrol, diesel, and electricity to support their transportation as they keep getting costly day by day.
Solar Charger
Battery life is a huge headache in our technology-based life. We always need to keep charging our phones or laptop or look for a backup charger, especially when we go out for a long time. Battery dying in the middle of a conversation is a nuisance we all hate dealing with. So, switching to solar charger seems to be the most sensible choice. There are various types of solar chargers that are available in the market. They can come in handy when we go camping or stay away from home for a long time.
Solar Electricity
This can be a bit hard to afford but if we can achieve incorporating it in our daily life, a lot of our expenses will be cut short. Electricity can be very costly and on top of that, there is always a shortage of it in a lot of places. Solar electricity is useful, especially in all those places. They can live off the grid without any problem.
So, these four things are the most used solar-powered things we can see in our daily life. But, it will be most favourable when we can avail all of them a lot more easily just like domestic solar water heaters.
Read More
5 Tips That Will Help You Find The Best Solar Water Heating System
Many people are switching over from electric water heaters to solar water heating system due to its so many advantages. This has brought out a lot of competitors for solar water heaters in the market. Even though most people go by recommendations from other people to choose a product for themselves, a solar water heating system should be bought after a lot of consideration. Given below are some tips that will help you choose a good solar water heating system.
Do Research
This is the first step and the most important one to know which one suits your needs best. The internet will come in very handy for this. You can easily search the topmost competitors of a solar water heater in your location. Search each of them and see which one has the benefits to offer.
Check The Reviews And Recommendations
Always choose at least 2-3 competitors from the internet that are the best in the market. While choosing from them you can check their reviews on the internet. Go through their websites and see if their clients are satisfied with their services. Most companies are transparent enough nowadays to let you know about their reputation in the market. If your chosen competitor has a lot of good reviews and recommendations, you can choose them.
Contact The Manufacturer
Once you have come down to one option, you can take the next step and contact the manufacturer. You can easily contact them through their websites or any other listing site. Talking to them will give you a more clear idea of whether choosing them has been the right step or not.
Ask About The Installation Process
The whole installation process should be taken care of by the company itself. Make sure you learn beforehand what kind of services they provide and if they are willing to install it for you at your home. They will also be able to tell you the best place to install it at your residence once they check out the place to help you get the best from your solar water heating system.
Check The Warranty Period
A solar water heating system is usually a long-time investment. So, lastly, check out the warranty period your company is giving you. Usually, a solar water heating system tends to work smoothly for at least 15 years. If your company is providing you with a satisfying warranty period, you have chosen the perfect system for yourself.
So, check out all these things and choose your solar water heating system very carefully.
Read More
This Independence Become Free From Electricity With Solar Water Heater
This 15th August, we will be celebrating 74th Independence Day. This year even though we are fighting against a pandemic, India has come a long way in every aspect. Whether it’s the advancement in technologies or the advancement in people’s lives, we have achieved a lot. But if there is one thing we are still dependent on others is the usage of non-renewable resources. Similarly, electricity is another resource that we are dependent on and spend so much money on it.
But advancement in technology has made it possible for us to have an alternative which is solar energy. Solar energy is currently on the verge of gradually replacing electricity. As the sunlight we use is free, there is no need for us to depend on others. This is why, this Independence Day, we should all vow to truly become independent by reducing the usage of electricity with the help of a solar water heater.
You might wonder how? Well, if instead of using an electric water heater or gas water heater, you can use a solar water heater and this will cut down your electricity bill by a lot. It has been observed that almost 50-80% of a person’s electricity bill gets cut down if instead of an electric heater, a solar water heater is used.
A solar water heater uses collects the solar energy from the sun and then convert it into heat energy to heat the water in the solar tank. If you use a solar water heater, you can get hot water throughout the free of cost instead of wasting your electricity. Depending on where you live, you can get hot water even on cloudy days. On those days, the solar water heater absorbs heat from the atmosphere and simply heat the water in the tank.
You will see the change in your electricity bill within a month. Also, a solar water heater can last for more than 20 years, which is a long-term investment and the government also gives subsidy for using solar power. This is why if you start using solar water heater, you will not only become free from electricity but also get to save a lot of money.
So, on this 74th Independence Day, take steps to make yourself free from electricity and buy a solar water heater for your home and get a limitless supply of water all the while saving money.
Read More
Learn About The Various Components Of A Domestic Solar Water Heater
If you are a user of domestic solar water heater, you also need to know how to maintain it properly so that it will at least work for 10-15 years without any problem. But in order to that, one should also know what consists of a solar water heater and what are the various components it has. If you know about the components, you will be able to maintain it properly. So, read on to learn more about these components.
Collectors
The most important component of a domestic solar water heater is the collectors. Their basic function is to collect solar energy and then turn it into heat energy for further use. Collectors are mostly flat panels or tubes that contain a series of copper pipes in evacuated glass tubes. These panels can heat the fluid inside the pipes while minimizing radiative heat loss.
Storage
The second most important component of a solar water heater is the storage. Its basic function is to keep the hot water stored for a long time. This is possible due to the insulation of the storage that enables the water to stay hot. If in case your solar water heater has a closed-loop system, it normally has a heat exchanger for both the heating fluid and the water. In another type of system, the fluid is drained out of the coils and they tend to have a separate storage tank for storing the water.
Other Components
Among other components includes a temperature and a pressure relief valve. This is needed as the temperature of the water can get as hot as possible, so it needs to stay under control.
- It also has an expansion tank that expands when water heats and expands.
- Circulating pump is also there in order to circulate the water for heating.
- Heat transfer fluid is also an important component in a solar water heating system. It carries the heat from solar collectors to water storage tanks. This fluid can either be potable water or a non-toxic anti-freeze depending on the climate.
- Another component is heat exchangers which transfer solar heat from the transfer fluid to the home water supply.
You can see clearly that neither the function nor the components of a domestic solar water heater are much complicated. You can easily use and maintain a solar water heating system on your own without the need for any external services.
Read More
Do’s And Don’ts To Follow To Maintain A Industrial Solar Water Heater
Proper maintenance is required for everything, even if it’s something that has the guarantee of 10-20 years, like commercial solar water heaters. Without maintenance, it probably won’t run as long as it is supposed to. So, knowing what you should do and not do in order to maintain it is important. Here we are giving you a list of things to do and not to do if you want to keep your industrial solar water heater efficient for a long time.
Things You Should Do
There are several things you should do to maintain your solar water heater:
Clean The Glass Cover
It is very important to keep the glass cover of your solar water heater clean. If dust and dirt get settled on it, it will block the sun rays. This, in turn, will reduce the output of the system. Depending on how much dusty the environment is, it is recommended to clean it twice every week.
Remove Obstructions
Any obstructions surrounding your industrial solar water heater is not allowed. If you see any trees or branches around the heater, then you should trim them. You need to make sure that the collectors of the heater get as much as sunlight possible.
Be Economical
You should not use hot water as frequently as you can without any reason, just because you have access to it. Try to be economical. This will prevent the mixing of hot and cold water in the storage tank.
Clean It Once A Year
Flush out the complete system to remove any kind of settled dirt at least once in a year. Use a water softener to prevent the collector pipes from getting blocked, if the water in your area has a lot of iron. Once a year, inspect all the parts of the industrial solar water heater which includes the storage tank, the collector and the pipes between tank and collector. Make sure nothing is damaged. If so, then repairing it is necessary.
Things You Shouldn’t Do
There are several things you shouldn’t do while maintaining solar water heater:
- Do not unnecessarily close the vent pipe. Make sure that this vent pipe is open in the atmosphere and is placed at a higher position than the cold water storage tank.
- Do not use rough materials to clean the glass cover.
- Do not keep the electrical backup on when you don’t need it.
- Do not close the valve on the cold water inlet to ensure a constant supply of cold water to the solar water heater.
So, if you are a user of industrial solar water heater, make sure you follow all the do’s and don’ts while maintaining the solar water heater.
Read More